NFT: In memory of Bob from Annapolis

First time online this weekend and so saddened to hear this news. Though we missed camp this year, Bob was one of the reasons we even would go. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Linda and his children and Bruce as well. We always admired the friendship shared between Bruce and Bob. I will miss our friendship and our times on the golf course. Rest easy my friend.

about the evils of the internet, this thread shows that the web can introduce us to folks like Bob who can touch our lives in a positive way. Like many others here, I met Bob at camp and through this forum, and like those others found him a quality fellow. He will be missed.

My condolences to his family and those who feel his loss.

and i see this, depressing. this pm i have a memorial service for my 57 yar old colleague who also died of an acute cardiac event.

bad day, good memories of bob. i actually remember sitting in the lobby of he best western with him, telling him we had better get him to hospital. he survived that, but i guess sooner or later the reaper wins.

i liked him, a good guy, a lunch pail guy, a sweet guy. what else can i say. the bbi community is dominshed

I met Bob a couple of times at our annual FedEx tailgate party. I nicer man I won't meet. My oldest daughter said that Giant fans are just so much nice than everyone else and Bob certainly fits is a prime reason why. My prayers along with all of you above are also with his family.

thank you all for posting your memories and thoughts of Bob. Eric, if you don't mind could you give me a heads up before this is deleted? i'd like to print this out for Linda.

Bob in Annapolis' S.O. - Linda's screen persona, asks that if you have any stories about Bob you want to share (some have already) to please go ahead and put them here. she'll share them with his loved ones on saturday. Montreal Man and i spent a few minutes with her on sunday evening. she was VERY pleased to see the pix from the tailgate. i'll be printing it up for her to keep. this is one amazing woman...in the midst of her grief she's telling me to come and get Bob's Giants stuff because it will mean more to Steve and i than her and asking me about my love life!

his family is hosting a 'ceremony of rememberance' on saturday afternoon. they'll be lifting toasts and telling stories about Bob...he will be cremated this week. if you're interested in attending, lemme know and i'll get you the details.

what a good man. funny, charming, kind, concerned, wicked prankster, doctor, fisherman, loving father, doting and proud grandfather and Giants fan.

he treated me like family from day one. inviting me to visit for the weekend; witnessing his relationship grow with Linda; including me on training camp trips and game days when i was still new to BBI; meeting me in DC for preseason trips to CCSP on the hopes of seeing the game; joining the nutcases in Laurel for a good time on sundays to watch the Giants AND heckle our NFC East rivals..."for old dudes, they can hang" was high praise from the fellas! calling before and after the surgery to reset my leg...my 2nd opinion ;O); when i, on impulse, hopped on a plane to FL for the superbowl...with no game tix. it was Bob, when i got a crisis of faith from the Atlanta airport that asked "do you want to come home? i'll come pick you up at the airport." but he was also the man that took a faceful of mashed potatoes from Bruce and threw back his streamed veggies without hesistation...we should have been thrown outta more places now that i think about it.

Our Bob, with a cigar, scotch on the rocks, a steak and the Giants...you lived well Bob...now live on in eternal life...i loved you and you'll be missed.

I wish I was more clear headed at the time, but I do remember smoking cigars (margi's) and a hell of a lot of laughs. The pic from above with Bob and Chopper was after a good night of eats and drinks and about 5 or 6 or us sitting outside the Best Western laughing our asses off.

He had so much more material on Fiddy Six than the rest of us, he was a gold mine. And a very good soul.

Very glad to have met you Bob.

during Fassel's last season...both teams were 4-8 and it was -10 wind chill...well there we all were all down and depressed about the Giants wasted season (and freezing our asses off). And I will never forget Bob, all bundled up trying to drink some beer in front of the fire we had built, telling anyone who would listen that if the Giants won their last 4 games and got some help, they could still make the playoffs.

That was Bob....he was always an optimist and that was what made him so special...

I loved ya Bob and I'll see you in Big Blue heaven one day.

but as this website so eloquently proves, there is an immediate and special bond among Giants fans. No words can ever console the hurt that Bob's family is feeling, but my family and I will keep them in our thoughts and prayers as they navigate through this most difficult time.

Rest In Peace Bob.

so when I scrolled throught the first page and saw the terrible news, it took me two reads to be sure what I was reading was right.

This is very sad. Bob was a terrific guy and someone I related to like he was my age. He had a sense of humor where you could make any joke no matter how raunchy or juvenile, yet whenever he contributed with one, they were always classy and witty. The thing about this attribute that I think is so special is it created this dynamic is that while you (I) would feel weird about the filthy borderline offensive joke you just told, this venerable old man would laugh with you even if he was totally grossed out just to ensure you weren't embarassed. But at the same time he led by example and made you realize that you could be funny and classy at the same time.

I will definitely miss you Bob! And that is a great pic jlukes.

So sad, such a loss for us all. He was a kind man and the world is always needing more kind men. I've seen Bob at camp every year for I believe 10 seasons (if memory serves). The world is diminished with his passing. It will be so strange without him at games or camp. My condolences to Bob's family, close friends and this community which Bob enriched. Peace.

and while there was no "gloom and doom" pall cast over the festivities, every time someone mentioned Bob's name (it was often), there was this momentary silence and a stare, to a person, that said it all. Truly shocking. There were a few stories, similar to the ones already posted here, but mostly just warm thoughts about the man. And then the stares again, and the head-shaking. I think those at the game yesterday, who knew of Bob even a little bit, like me, thought of him during the great win.

My condolences

I thought of Bob the whole game...he would have loved to have been there.

When I was staying at Bob and Linda's place, I was homesick for my kitties at home, so I had gotten Cat Fancy magazine, the Kitten issue, with loads of pictures of cute tiny little kittens...and was leafing through it, getting my feline fix, at the breakfast table.

Bob, Linda and Larry joked about my "Kitty Porn." It was hilarious. Such good times and good laughs. Needless to say, Bob and Linda cooked up a breakfast fit for a king.

Then Bob drove us down to Steve in MD's draft party, where Steve served up a spread that could feed an army.

That whole long weekend, wherever I went, I GORGED myself and didn't pay a cent. It was an "Eat My Face Off" weekend, and I had soooo much fun. Bob and Linda's hospitality and generosity were at the heart of it all.

What a sweet, kind man. I just adored him. And knowing that he was in pain, pretty much all the time, made it even more remarkable that he put on a happy face and was so kind.

What a doll. I will miss him.

Very sorry. I never met him, but he seemed like a great man. Rest in peace. Prayers to him and his family.

I was sure I would cross paths with Bob at a bar someday. My prayers go out for him and his family.

to his family. You will be in my prayers.

for all your thoughts, well wishes, and stories. Bob was my dad, and I know he would be touched to see all of your posts. I had the pleasure of meeting several of you, and even got to enjoy a tailgate at the Panther/Giant playoff game a couple of seasons ago. That's me in the enemy attire.



I can tell you that he spoke of all of you the same way you are speaking of him now. I believe one of the biggest reasons he was such a big Giants fan was because of all of you. He went to the games as much for the tailgates as he did to sit in the stands. And he went to Training Camps to see you guys just as much as he did to see the team.

You meant so much to him, and I thank you for that. Regarding "services" - as Steve mentioned at the beginning of this thread we are having a gathering in Severna Park, MD on Saturday. I believe it will be held at his sister's house. Someone will post more information once we have it.

I do know that in lieu of flowers you can make a donation to the American Heart Association in his name. You can donate online (I've added a link) or you can send donations to Linda if you have her address, or go through Steve. His e-mail is above.

Once again, thank you very much for all your thoughts and prayers.

- Adam Bennett
American Heart Association Online Memorial Donations - ( New Window )

your dad was a cool guy, and I liked him a lot.

and am so saddened to hear this news. What an absolute sweetheart of a man. He'll be sorely, sorely missed.

RIP, Bob. And my thoughts and prayers to his entire family.

We're all deeply saddened, and sorry for your loss. Your father was very often the first person who would greet me upon arriving at a tailgate, a kind, gentle soul. God Bless.

but as you can see, your father touched many, many people and that is a fantastic legacy to leave behind. I talked to you him about you, and the rest of your family, many times. He was very, very proud of you all. I wish you all well and hope that all the kinds words people have for Bob help you find some peace.

Having been there when you were born, I find it hard to believe that as an adult you're coming on here to talk about your Dad's passing...Surreal to say the least...I hope Allison is holding up okay, your mom as well...

Bruce

Very sorry to hear about the loss of your Father, I never had the honor of meeting him but just in reading this thread I can see what a great guy he was. Many here were privileged to call him a friend but only you and your sister were lucky enough to call him Dad. Best wishes to you and your family in this time of grief.

And my best wishes and condolences to his entire family and the very many friends he made. Sad day for our community...

to a wonderful poster. God Bless his family.

My condolences to your family and friends.

You've now got the best seat to all the Giant's games.

I had such a great time with you and your dad at the Panthers-Giants playoff game a few years back. I am so heartbroken...stay strong my brother...if there is anything you need, please email me. If you ever just want to get out for a drink and blow some steam off I am here for ya.

what a great day, except of course for the outcome of the game.

I've only known Bob from his posts on BBI. He was always classy and gentlemanly. My condolences to his family and his BBI "family."

Thank you all for your prayers and kind words about my father. I can’t believe how many lives he touched through BBI. My Dad loved all of you and talked endlessly about training camp, this site, all the games and other events. Unfortunately, I’m not a sports fan (although being a New Yorker, I’m happy to hear when a team from NY does well) – and I couldn’t exactly relate to his passion. He’d talk to me about football and I always had a puzzled look on my face. I do however understand that much of his love of the Giants was because of the friendships he made everyday at the games and online, which enriched his life tremendously. This is such a shocking loss for our family, yet I’m comforted to know how loved he was.

I’m attaching two recent photos. One of my dad and me, and the other my daughter, Megan, and her grandpa. We loved him very much and will miss him every day.

than you for posting

.

ago. Of course I knew Bob from his posts here and he really seemed like one of BBI's good guys. My prayers go out to Bob and all who loved him.

Your dad was a fine man. I'm glad I had the pleasure of knowing Bob. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.

You look a lot like your dad... and I mean that as a compliment. Your daughter is beautiful too, thank you for sharing those pictures with us.

My condolences and prayers.

I am one of Bob's brothers. As Adam and Allison said, the postings on this site are unbelieveable..... have made me finally break down for a few minutes(which I needed to do)....we are all deeply greatful.
Bob has talked about his site for years and many of you were like family...
Oh, by the way "Go Redskins!!"

Bart

that's probably the only time you'll be able to get away with that. I had hung out with your brother many a time and he was usually one of the first 2/3 people to come up and greet me. Just a wonderful man who loved football and being with friends. God bless.

to the post in jest of course! ; )

God Bless...I am certain you all carry the same unique qualities as your father/brother. All the best.

Thank you for sharing more about Bob with us. I'm so sorry for your loss, but I'm glad that people appear to be celebrating his wonderful life.

As many of you know, Bob did not want a “funeral service”; ...he always said “have a party instead", or we should "drink a toast to him with good scotch"... so wherever you are, please make that toast this weekend, or at the next Giant game.

Family and close friends are gathering on Saturday for a farewell to Bob at Marge’s house (Bob’s sister) in Millersville, MD 2-5 pm....just a few blocks from Bob & Linda’s house.

As much as we would love to meet all of you, we can’t handle the entire BBI membership, (although from the sound of all of you, it would be one hell of a party).....but if you are close enough and interested in coming by, here are a couple of email addresses and phone numbers for more details and directions.
Marge Puccinelli margepuccinelli@comcast.net 410-218-9483 (c)
Bart Bennett bart@honesttea.com 703-994-7360 (c) 703-471-0607(h)

Expressions of sympathy can also be made to the American Heart Association

Thank you all again...

but I just want to give my heartfelt thoughts out to Bob's family.

As a measure of respect, I will attempt to handle things like Bob would for the near future and refrain from any personal insults. Bob may have been one of the most tactful and kind posters on the board and his passing should initiate a change for the good.

Bob

I am so sorry to hear of Bob's passing. I only knew him for a few years. But I know he was a good <br>
and decent man, who was caring, friendly, and always made you feel like he had known you forever.<br>
I'll miss his wit and wisdom, golf stories, and a fellow cigar smoker. Above all I'll miss him <br>
and all his contributions to life. God be with you, Bob.<p>

I wish to offer my condolences to his wife and family on this terrible loss. Also to his good friend,<br>
partner, and fellow BBIer Bruce. May the good Lord bring you comfort in this time of sorrow. <br>

I apologize for being late to this. I was unavailable for the past 10 days<br>
or so. Thanks Larry for letting me know.

Judging by the very thoughtful and heartfelt comments made about him here, and from reading his posts over the years, indeed the Giants did lose a great fan and even greater person.

Dearest Bob, you will be missed more than you know. To even think of Training Camp without you, just doesn't seem right. My heart is sad and breaking for myself, Linda, your children and the grandchildren you spoke of often and with pride, and our dearest Bruce. Friendship is something I cherish like none other and you and Bruce, as well as all the friends you've made here are something that will live on forever. To share a fond memory. HopeJ, Steve in MD, Bob and I were heading home after a game. We had just stopped for gas and were getting back into the car. Bob was driving and had left his soda on the roof. A man came up to tell him and noticed the BBI t-shirt, it turned out it was David Oliver, who introduced himself. Ironically we met up quite accidentally at the same place after another game. So I know this is not good bye, but instead, we'll see you again. Rest in peace, although way too soon, Cynthia

wipe away the tears, sniffle sniffle, Bob know I'll miss you as much as Rocky ;o)